Jerusalem Cross
Also known as The Crusaders Cross and Five-Fold Cross, the Jerusalem Cross dates back to the First Crusade in the 11th Century. Crusaders saw the Jerusalem Cross as a symbol of salvation and a call to spread the word of God from the central location of the Christian Faith, Jerusalem. The Jerusalem Cross was used as a coat of arms for the Latin Kingdom in Jerusalem, which existed for approximately 200 years after the first Crusade. It was worn by Godfrey de Bouillon, the first ruler of the kingdom as his symbol.
There are two versions of the Jerusalem Cross. The first version has four, equally distanced arms. These arms symbolize the four directions and the belief that Christianity spreads from Jerusalem the spiritual center, Jerusalem.
The more complex, and more widely used version of the Jerusalem cross is comprised of the basic version of the cross surrounded with four smaller “crosslets.” These smaller crosses represent the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John who wrote the gospels and helped spread the word of Jesus Christ throughout the four corners of the world
Several different comparisons have been made about the five crosses included in the Jerusalem cross (the center cross and the four surrounding). These include the representation of the five nations’ active in the Crusades: Great Britain, Germany, Spain, Italy and France. Another representation is that of the five principalities in the Latin Kingdom in Jerusalem.
Perhaps the most compelling symbolism found in the Jerusalem Cross is that of the five wounds Jesus Christ suffered during the passion. Wounds to Christ’s hands and feet are represented in the small crosses and the large center cross represents the wound to Jesus’ side.
Today, the Jerusalem Cross calls Christians everywhere to continue to spread the word our Lord, Jesus Christ in all four corners of the world. The Jerusalem Cross is a popular gift for retreats, confirmations and anyone answering the Lord’s call to service.
And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple (Lk 14:27).
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